The application of microorganisms in agriculture has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance soil health, improve nutrient availability, and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers. The emergence of microorganisms has come into realization after agronomic management has reduced the diversity of soil and plant microbiome.
Can microorganisms (soil native or inoculant) contribute directly or indirectly to Emission Reduction and CDR?
In this brief, explores how microorganisms possibly contribute to emission reduction and CDR, emphasizing microorganisms roles in nutrient transformation, plant energy optimization, and soil carbon stabilization.
There are different direct/indirect roles effects where microorganisms affect plant and consequently affect carbon sequestration. These roles includes:
- Nutrient Acquisition and Transformation (Reduced NPK applications)
- Energy Use Optimization in Plants
- Enhanced Plant Vigor and Biosequestration
- Reduced Water Needs (Better Water Use Efficiency)
- Plant Health and Reduced Use of Pesticides
- Increased Yield and Quality (nutrient Dense produce)
- Balancing Oxidation/Reduction Process in Soil
- Soil Carbon Stabilization
Here are some brief explanation on how microorganisms can contribute to some of the points outlined above.
- Microorganisms play a crucial role in transforming nutrients in the soil, making them more accessible to plants. This biological process reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers, which are often associated with significant greenhouse gas emissions during their production and applications. According to research, microbial inoculants enhance the bioavailability of essential nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, iron, and manganese facilitating plant uptake and growth (e.g., Babalola, 2010).
- Microorganisms allows plants to conserve energy that would otherwise be spent on nutrient acquisition and transformation. Plants typically allocate a significant portion of their photosynthetically derived sugars to nitrogen transformation, synthesis of complex compounds such as protein and lipids, besides root exudation and nutrient uptake processes. This energy optimization not only improves plant health but also increases the production of root exudates. Root exudates, comprising various organic compounds, are pivotal for stabilizing organic carbon in the soil.
- Microorganisms contribute to increased plant vigor by improving the uptake of essential elements such as silicon that constitutes a significant part of the plant vascular system and by creating rhizosheath that reduced the direct impacts of abiotic and biotic stress on plant
- Microorganisms contribute to increased plant vigor by improving the uptake of essential elements such as silicon that constitutes a significant part of the plant vascular system and by creating rhizosheath that reduced the direct impacts of abiotic and biotic stress on plant. Plant vigor is considered a form of biosequestration. Healthier plants with robust growth sequester more carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, storing it in their biomass
- Microorganisms enhances soil carbon sequestration. Root exudates, stimulated by microbial activity, interact with soil minerals to form stable organic carbon complexes. This form of soil organic carbon and process, known as mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) formation, is a critical mechanism for long-term carbon storage in soils (Six et al., 2002).
Microorganisms offer a multifaceted approach to emission reduction and carbon dioxide removal in agriculture. By enhancing nutrient transformation, optimizing plant energy use, and stabilizing soil organic carbon, microorganisms reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers and promote long-term carbon sequestration.
The key obstacle remains in understanding the complexity of soil-microorganisms-plant and ensuring microorganisms work for the plant, which requires field experience (context) and scientific knowledge to make the most of it.
